Today in the MHSAA: 2/4/16

February 4, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

As is annually the case, the first Wednesday in February was dominated by coverage of national collegiate signing day. But after the hoopla passed, there were championships to be won.

Competitive Cheer

Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills won its second Ottawa-Kent Conference Black championship in three seasons, edging Muskegon Mona Shores by fewer than four points at the league meet – Grand Rapids Press

Ice Hockey

With a 2-2 tie against Allen Park Cabrini, much-improved Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard won its sectional of the Detroit Catholic League – MLive-Detroit

Wrestling

Division 1 No. 2 Hartland won arguably the toughest league in Michigan on Wednesday, downing No. 6 Westland John Glenn in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship quad; the league also includes No. 4 Brighton – Livingston Daily

Niles solidified itself as first in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West again by downing undermanned rival Stevensville Lakeshore 37-16 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Today in the MHSAA: 10/16/15

October 16, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

First-time champions are always worth noting, and we found a few in checking out today’s media reports of Thursday action statewide.

Cross Country

The Calumet girls, ranked No. 4 in Upper Peninsula Division 1, and the unranked Houghton boys won the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference finals at Chassell – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Boys Soccer

Grand Rapids Union clinched its first league title since moving from the Grand Rapids City League to the Ottawa-Kent Conference, downing Muskegon 3-0 – Grand Rapids Press

Manchester edged Hillsdale Academy 2-1 to claim its first Independent Soccer League championship after winning only one league game in 2014 – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Volleyball

Class B honorable mention Buchanan downed Class C’s top-ranked team, Bronson, in five sets, and also Class D No. 6 Mendon in five – Niles Daily Star

Class B No. 6 Mount Morris avenged a five-set loss to No. 5 Goodrich in September by sweeping the Martians to improve to 55-5-1 – Flint Journal

Zeeland West claimed its first conference title in this sport, defeating Holland Christian in five sets to claim a share of the O-K Green championship – Holland Sentinel

Good Reads

Longtime Burton Atherton leader Mary Down will become the third volleyball coach inducted into the Greater Flint Area Hall of Fame, having impacted a generation of players and more as a number of former players went on to coach as well – Flint Journal